The Audubon Societies
While the foregoing items date back to the end of March, one must be added which, at that date was still in the realm of hope. Since that date it has become a working fact, and we are rejoicing that the observ— ance of Bird Day has at last become a law oi Illinois. Our state superintendent of schools, Mr. Aliieri Byliss, has been greatly in sympathy with the efiorts of the Audubon Society in this direction, and stands ready to aid as tar as possible in the work of bird study and protection in the schools, As the work of the National Committee draws the various state societies into closer union, and they know more and more of each other’s work, there is little to report that is not already a twieestold tale; and yet, each society has its own special interests, its own special wants, One of our ‘ is one each society will also claim as in special want-more money! We need it for a lantern; for another lecture; to buy charts and leaflets; to hold meetings; to buy books to help our children and teachers; to educate, educate, educate, until every man, woman and child in our state realizes that while the dead wing may have a certain beauty. it as nothing compared to the ‘joyful \ g cleaving the sky,‘ and that while the bird may be of use as iood, that use is as nothing compared to its usefulness when it Is allowed to do the eating! We hope and believe that the outlook forthe birds in Illinois grows brighter every year, and feel that they have the rightto chant a brave little ‘ surstlm corda ‘ for their native songi MARY DituMhloNn, Secretary.
special ‘ wants
CALIFORNIA
Miss Josephine Clifford M'Crackin, president of Women' Forest— and Sung- Bird Protective Association, of Santa Cruz county, California, which was organized in December, 1900. writes of a project to organize birdvprotective different counties, with one state president to
associations in
whom all are to reporti
This is an excellent arrangement for a state of the area of California, where ‘local secretaries’ wotlld find themselves far apart, though the underlying idea is the same. It is time that California stirred herself in
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bird-protective matters. for if the Redlands society has done any active work it has very eifectually concealed it. at least from the Audubon Department of Bum-LURE.
Bird Protection Abroadiilll. New Zealand
or 'r. s. PALMER
An interesting article on the birds of Ner Zealand, by Charles A. Keeler, in the August number of Birth—Lotte. naturally suggests an inquiry as to the protection attorded native species in that distant part of the world. A glance at the map will show that New Zealand consists of two main islands, extending approximately from 35° to +7“ 3, Lat., witlt an area of ro+,47t square miles. Its corresponding position on our Pacific coast would be from Santa Barbara, California, to Gray's Harhor, Washington; its area is a little greater than that of Colorado and about equal to that ol the combined areas of New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Delaware, with the lofty mountains on the South Island, its topography and r-lirnatie Conditions are as varied as those of any of ottr western states.
Game protection has received considerable attention in the colony for more than thirty years, and has been restored largely by the acclimati7ation societies, which were first organized in the sixties. at least nine game-laws have been enacted, These comprise two principal and seven minor acts, as follows: "l‘he Protection of Animals Act, r3733 amended in 187;; and ‘ The Animals’ Protection Act, 1880,‘ amended by the acts of tSSt, t83+, 1386, r389. r395 and 1900. These laws, like other institutions of New Zealand, diner radically from those of other countries.
During this titne
'I‘htis, under the act of r880 ‘gamc' is de- fined as imported animals and birds, while the spec ‘c tenn ‘native game’ is applied to indigenous species; licenses are given more attention than prohibitions against killing; and the property in game ‘turnetl at largc‘ by an acclintatization society tnay be vested in the chairman of the society for three years. instead of the state.
being vested in
